Senate concurs to ratify the ILO Convention 189 (Decent work for domestic workers)

20 senators, without abstentions, voted to concur with the ratification of the ILO Convention 189 (Decent work for domestic workers) around 3:35 this afternoon. (Pres. Aquino signed its ratification on May 18, 2012, but this requires Senate concurrence.)

Chandra Merry, our intern from CAPI/ Canada and I witnessed this fruit of our years of lobbying with other OFW organizations, migrant NGOs, trade unions, Visayan Forum and domestic workers’ organizations, etc. The gallery packed to the rafters included domestic workers themselves. We also saw the DOLE Secretary, the Administrators of both POEA and OWWA, the DFA, ILO and some LGU officials. The DFA has to deposit the instrument of ratification to the ILO Director-General in Geneva.

For us in CMA, we call on the ILO Member States to likewise ratify the Convention 189. We also call on our partner organizations in these States to continue lobbying for the Convention.

Likewise, we call on Congress to pass our Domestic Workers’ Law (Kasambahay Bill).

In addition, there should be close and strict monitoring of their implementation.